Ventilating system for sealed ignition distributors and engine crankcases



May 26, 1953 CZIEBUEETOB M. e. BALES 2,639,701 VENTILATING SYSTEM-FOR SEALED IGNITION DISTRIBUTORS AND ENGINE 'CRANKCASES Filed Jan. 17, 1951 COMBUST/ON Am CLEANER 7 INTAKE- V1 4 MANIFOLD l4; FILTER i .3: {A54 I g v z I i 0 I I w 1 as l /3 34 Mr d.

Y /Z 2 czmvx C455 /5 I Ale INTAKE- H rt H1 9 I/NVENTOIQ MAX G. B/ILES Patented May 26, 1953 VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR SEALED IG- NITION DISTRIBUTORS AND ENGINE 'CRANKCASES Max G. Bales, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application January 17, 1951, Serial No. 206,458

This invention relates to automotive vehicles which are required to ford streams of such depths that the engine may be submerged.

An object of the invention is to provide a ventilating system for the engine crank case and the ignition distributor having means for preventing entrance of water when fording. Therefore the system provides a plurality of valves which are closed in a certain sequence preparatory to fording and are opened in a certain sequence after fording.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a ventilating system embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a valve HV included in Fig. 1.

Referring to the Fig. 1, an engine I includes a crank case II supporting a plurality of cylinders one of which is shown at I2. Each cylinder receives a piston I3 connected with a crank shaft I4 which through gears, not shown, drives a cam shaft I5 for controlling the engine valves one of which is shown at I6. Shaft I5 drives an ignition distributor I! the housing of which includes a tubular member I8 supported by the crank case I I and enclosing a. shaft which transmits motion from the shaft I5 to moving parts of the distributor.

Air enters through a pipe 20 and passes through an air cleaner 2| and into a carburetor 22 connected with engine intake manifold 23. Air for crank case ventilation passes through a valve VI, when, open, an air filter 24, and a pipe 25 connected with crank case II. Through pipe 25 engine oil can be introduced after removal of a filler cap 23.

Air for ventilating distributor II flows from the air cleaner 2i through a pipe 30, valve V3, when open, and pipe 3| connected with the interior of the distributor housing which is connected by a pipe 32 having a restriction 33 and connected with a pipe 34 which a valve V2, when opened, places in communication with an intake manifold 23.

The crank case II is connected by pipe 35 and a valve HV with pipe 34. The valve HV includes a housing 40 (Fig. 2) which encloses a valve member 4I having side holes 42 and a smaller hole 43. A spring 44 normally holds valve 4| in open position when intake suction is relatively 6 Claims. (Cl. 123-119) 2 low as occurs when the engine is operating with the throttle wide open. When the engine idles and the intake suction is high, spring 44 is overcome and valve 4I engages a seat 45 so that the small hole 43 of the valve provides the sole connection between the pipes 35 and 34. The function of valve HV is to limit the suction in the crank case II when the engine is idling or operating at part throttle while providing sufficient suction for crank case ventilation when the engine is operating with the throttle wide open.

When the vehicle is not fording, valves VI, V2 and V3 are opened. To purge the crank case II from gases which blow by the piston I3, engine operation causes circulation of air through valve VI, filter 24, pipe 25 into said crank case II and out through pipe 35, valve HV, pipe 34 and valve V2 into intake manifold 23. Air for ventilating of the housing of distributor I1 is induced to flow, during operation of the engine, through pipe 30, valve V3, pipe 3|, distributor housing I1, pipe 32, restriction 33, pipe 34, and valve V2 and into the intake manifold 23.

The housing ll of the distributor has a connection with the crank case through the housing supporting member l8 which encloses the shaft which connects the distributor mechanism with the engine cam shaft I5. Therefore, the restriction 33 in pipe 32 is provided so that suction in the distributor housing will not exceed suction in'the crank case II. If suction in the distributor housing exceeded suction in the crank case I I, oil which is churned around in the crank case during operation of the engine might be sucked into the distributor.

During fording the valves VI, V2 and V3 are closed to prevent entrance of water. This is important because there is a pressure built up in the crank case and the distributor ventilating system caused by piston flow by which is required to prevent entrance of water around the various seals in the engine.

In preparation for fording valve V3 is closed first in order to cut off suction in the housing of the distributor I1 and then valves VI and V2 are closed. If valve V3 were closed after closing valves VI and V2 there would be an interval of time during which the crank case II and the distributor housing would be under suction and churning crank case oil would be drawn into the distributor. The closing of valves VI, V2 and V3 seals the ventilation system against the entrance of water, pipe 20 extending above the level of the stream through which the vehicle must pass.

After fording valves VI and V2 are opened first let ducts associated with the-crank 158 42 2 Qifi tributor, and the intake manifold for ventilating the crank case and the distributor; and yalve means for closing the ducts for sealing "the ventilating system against entrance of water.

2. A ventilating system for a crank case and .a sealed {distributor for an internal Combustion engine comprising, a manifold associated with the engine; ,an air entrance duct associated with the ,crank case; an air entrance duct associated with the distributor; an vair outlet passageway 1 associated with the crank case and the manifold; a second air outlet passageway associated with distributor and the first passageway; and

valve means 'for closing the passageways and the air entrances for sealing the ventilatin vsystem against entrance of .water whenever iording.

3. A ventilating system ,for a crank case and ;a sealed-distributor for an internal combustion en ine comprisin ;a manifol associated wi h the-engine; iamair-.entra ce duct assoc ted w t the crankcase; an airentrance duct associated with the (CliSGIEibU-tOZj an ,air outlet passageway associated withthe crank caseandlthe maniiold;

a second air outlet passageway associated with distributor and the firs a sa way; an manually-op r t d va e fo "c o i .t eair ent anc ducts and the (air outlet ducts for sealing .the

ventilating system against entrance of water-be- .fore fouling-said \valve in the distributor airn entrance duct-being closed in advanceof the other valves so that zsuction in the distributor is 1 11i; of? ;to preventoil in the crank case being :drawn .into the distributor, and after fording said -valve isiopenedsuhseguent the opening of the other valves.

-A' vehtilating; system for a crankease and a Sealed distri uto 1 of tanli terne com ustio -en- :eine; an nta e mani o d assoc at with th engin ant cntr n edu a so ia ed w h-th 4. crank-case; an air entrance duct associated with the distributor; an air outlet duct associated with the crank-case and the manifold; a second air outlet duct having a restriction formed therein associated with the distributor and the first (air outlet vduct; and valve ior closing the air entrance ducts and the air outlet ducts for sealing the ventilating system against entrance of Water Whenever fording.

5. A ventilating system for a crank-case and a sealed distributor of an internal combustion engine; an intake manifold associated with the engine; an air entrance duct associated with the :cigar keca nan air entrance duct associated with ;t e utor; an air outlet duct associated with :th crank-case and the manifold; a second air outlet duct associated with the distributor and the first air outlet duct; means for restricting the passage in the second air outlet duct so that suction in distributor will not exceed suction in crank-case; and manually operated .valve means for closing the ,air entrance ducts and the air outlet ,ducts for sealing .the ventilatings ystem against entrance of water whenever giording.

.6. A ventilating system for a crank-case and a sealed distributor of an internal combustion lengine; an intake manifold associated .tvith the engine; an air entrance duct associated with the crankecase; an air entrance dnotlassoelated with the distributor; an air outlet duct associated-With the crank-case and the ,manifold .a second air outlet duct associated with the distributor and the first air outlet duct; means for restricting ,thepassagcway through the second air duct so that suction in the distributor .will .not exceed suction in the crank-case; a bia sed .valyeslidably mounted vin the first air outlet duct, said valve adapted to limit thesuction injhecianktcas e when the engine is idling or operating at part throttle; and manually operated valves {or closing the 1 air entrance ducts and the air (outlet duct f ea n the ecom in s t m a ns entrance of water whenever fording. 

